Azma Bukhari praises CCD, police for sharp decline in crime rate
LAHORE :- Punjab’s Punjab has witnessed a rapid decline in crime rates, which Information Minister Azma Bukhari says is the result of the government’s effective strategy. In a statement, Azma Bukhari stated that thanks to the better strategy of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz, the crime rate in the province has decreased. Considering the increasing public acceptance of the CCD, Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz has decided to establish it as a premier agency. The Information Minister further stated that law and order in Punjab is improving, and crime statistics are now encouraging. Azma Bukhari said that women’s protection is Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz’s top priority and red line.
Source:The Patriot
March 13, 2026 11:25 UTC
Pakistani delegation's visit to Afghanistan is private
Giving a weekly briefing, he said that the Pakistani leadership is in continuous diplomatic contact with important countries in the region, including Iran, and Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has held three talks with the Iranian Foreign Minister, while the Prime Minister also contacted Iranian President Masoud Peshmerga and discussed the situation in the region. According to the spokesperson, the Prime Minister is going to visit Saudi Arabia soon and during this time, close contacts are also maintained with the Gulf countries, while the Prime Minister has had several telephone conversations with the Gulf leadership, including Oman and the United Arab Emirates. Tahir Hussain Andrabi said that he could not confirm definitively about possible contacts related to the Strait of Hormuz, but defense and military officials are in touch with their Iranian counterparts. He added that there has been no major change in the attitude towards Afghanistan, a delegation’s visit to Afghanistan is in a private capacity, while a negotiation process on Afghanistan is underway and a delegation led by the Chinese special representative will soon arrive in Pakistan. He said that the Afghan Taliban recently carried out aggression in more than 50 places.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 22:09 UTC
The US should close its military bases in the Middle East
The newly elected Iranian Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, has released his first audio statement in which he has given a strong message to the United States. Attacks will continue until US military bases are closedAyatollah Mojtaba Khamenei warned that US military bases in the Middle East should be closed, otherwise Iran will continue its attacks. The enemy is targeting the peopleMojtaba Khamenei added that the world has seen that the Iranian people are a great and united nation. He added that the enemy is targeting Iran and its people, but the Iranian nation will confront these conspiracies with unity. In his message, he added that Iran is not targeting any civilian or country, but only military bases are being targeted, and these operations will continue.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 22:09 UTC
Foreign exchange reserves increase by $41 million Archives
The State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $41 million during the past week. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, the reserves increased by $41 million to $16.3411 billion during the week ending March 6. The central bank informed that Pakistan’s total foreign exchange reserves have increased to $21.5983 […]
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 22:09 UTC
Court reserves verdict in case related to Sheikh Rashid's
Rawalpindi: The Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court has reserved its decision after completing the hearing on the intra-court appeal regarding former Interior Minister Sheikh Rashid Ahmed’s departure for Umrah. The appeal was heard in the Rawalpindi bench of the Lahore High Court by the Division Bench of Justice Jawad Hassan and Justice Tariq Mahmood Bajwa. During the hearing, the Additional Attorney General took the position that Sheikh Rashid’s name has been put on the stop list due to the GHQ attack case. He told the court that the Supreme Court has allowed many people to travel abroad despite trials in the past. After the completion of arguments, the Lahore High Court Rawalpindi Bench reserved the decision.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 22:09 UTC
Prime Minister arrives in Saudi Arabia for important meeting
Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif arrived in Saudi Arabia at the invitation of Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. At the Royal Terminal of Jeddah International Airport, the Prime Minister was received by the Deputy Governor of Makkah Region Prince Saud bin Mishaal bin Abdulaziz, Pakistan’s Ambassador to Riyadh Ahmed Farooq, Pakistan’s Consul General in Jeddah Syed Mustafa Rabbani and other diplomatic staff. The meeting between the Prime Minister and the Saudi Crown Prince will discuss the current situation in the region, the regional security situation and bilateral relations in detail and the Prime Minister will return after the meeting. This visit is demonstrating Pakistan’s positive role in the diplomatic field and Pakistan will continue to play this role.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 22:09 UTC
Foreign exchange reserves increase by $41 million
The State Bank of Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves increased by $41 million during the past week. According to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan, the reserves increased by $41 million to $16.3411 billion during the week ending March 6. The central bank informed that Pakistan’s total foreign exchange reserves have increased to $21.5983 billion on March 6. According to the State Bank, commercial banks have reserves of $5.2572 billion.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 21:17 UTC
Questions over Achakzai's meeting
Asif MahmoodThe meeting between British High Commissioner Jane Marriott and Mahmood Khan Achakzai, who is the Leader of the Opposition, has raised several questions. At a time when the region appears to be in a state resembling war, one must ask what the necessity of this meeting was. It appears that since Mahmood Khan Achakzai takes an unnecessarily harsh position regarding the establishment, Imran Khan chose to assign him this role. The path to Imran Khan’s release will pass either through the courts or through a political understanding among Pakistan’s political actors. These kinds of meetings by Mahmood Khan Achakzai will not bring any benefit to Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 21:17 UTC
A strategic imperative for Pakistan
These systemic weaknesses have prevented scientific research from translating into practical solutions for farmers and industry. The government’s proposed reform agenda, discussed during a high-level meeting with Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) Chairman Dr Syed Murtaza Hassan Andrabi, signals an important shift in policy thinking. Such specialized hubs can help Pakistan keep pace with rapidly evolving global agricultural technologies and enable researchers to address emerging challenges more effectively. Equally important is the recognition that agricultural research cannot remain confined within isolated institutional silos. Another vital component of the reform plan is the creation of a Digital National Agricultural Research Information System (NARIS) platform.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 21:11 UTC
Despite negotiations between Pakistan and the IMF
Despite 15 days of virtual talks between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF), a staff-level agreement has not been reached, but the talks will continue for a few more days, while the IMF has declared the implementation of the program by the end of February 2026 as overall in line with the commitments. The IMF statement said that Pakistan has also made significant progress on the reform agenda to combat climate change and increase environmental resilience, and several reform measures have been completed under the RSF. The IMF has expressed concern over rising energy prices and financial pressures globally. The statement said that further talks between the IMF and Pakistan should continue for the next few days so that their final outcome can be brought out soon. The IMF statement further stated that there is concern about rising energy prices and financial pressures at the global level, further discussions between the IMF and Pakistan will continue in the next few days.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 21:11 UTC
The price of American Epic Fury
Epic fury abroad often masquerades as decisive action, but the ledger–of lives lost, cities shattered, and global resentment accrued–is brutally real. Perhaps most troubling is the feedback loop that sustains this epic fury. Anger abroad feeds anger at home; anger at home validates anger abroad. If the United States wishes to recalibrate its course, it must first account for the true price of its fury. Epic fury may be dramatic; it may be cathartic; it may even yield short-term gains.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 21:11 UTC
WhatsApp launches new feature for young children
Instant messaging app WhatsApp has rolled out a new feature for users under 13, allowing them to use the platform with their parents’ permission. WhatsApp said the change was made in recognition of the platform’s importance to its family as a platform for young people. However, the feature comes at a time when concerns about the risks posed to young people by phones and social media apps are growing. WhatsApp said the ‘parent-managed’ accounts were created as a result of feedback from parents who told the company about their underage children using the app. Parents and guardians will be required to create and manage accounts on the app, and children’s accounts will be linked to adult accounts.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 19:26 UTC
Why did Hania Aamir ask for 2 million
Pakistani actor and digital content creator Meraj Haq has exposed host Adnan Faisal, who claimed that actress Hania Aamir demanded Rs 2 million for a podcast. Actress Hania Aamir is currently considered Pakistan’s biggest Generation Z star, having shown her acting chops in several hit dramas. Adnan Faisal alleged that Hania Aamir had demanded Rs 2 million for the show. Adnan Faisal again claimed that Hania Aamir had indeed demanded Rs 2 million for the podcast. He said that when he has not paid even a big name like Faisal Qureshi, why would he pay Hania Aamir?
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 19:26 UTC
A Nation in the Dark: The Vested Interests Blocking Pakistan’s Oil & Gas Bonanza
For more than twelve years, Pakistan has failed to launch a serious shale oil and gas policy. The country holds vast oil and gas resources, both conventional and unconventional. In 2016, I completed a report examining the shale gas potential of Pakistan. The report also emphasised the immense long-term opportunity presented by shale oil and gas resources. For more than twelve years, Pakistan has failed to launch a serious shale oil and gas policy.
Source:The Nation
March 12, 2026 17:02 UTC
Cabinet Committee approves inclusion o
ISLAMABAD: The Cabinet Committee on Privatisation has approved the inclusion of Fauji Fertiliser Company (FFC) in the consortium. A meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation was held under the chairmanship of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar. The meeting approved the inclusion of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited in the consortium. FFC will purchase 33.99 percent of PIA Equity Limited’s shares, with Arif Habib Corporation continuing to be the lead consortium member in the PIA privatisation process. The cabinet committee’s decision was sent to the federal cabinet for ratification.
Source:The Patriot
March 12, 2026 11:26 UTC